First Lecture of 2017/2018 Winter Season Given by Julian Walton Held at Dungarvan Sailing Club Was a Great Success!

Our first talk of the 2017/2018 winter season was given by historian and broadcaster Julian Walton on the fascinating history of Curraghmore House, and those associated with it over the centuries.

Julian held the audience enthralled for over an hour with his stories.  It is the first time we have had a talk at the Sailing Club premises, and it was a great success.

Our thanks to Dungarvan Sailing Club for accommodating us.

Nicola Minihan, Julian Walton, Marianna Lorenc, Eddie Cantwell

Object of the Week - Paper Tea Bag from D. Crotty, Tea, Wine & Spirit Merchant, 10 Main Street, Dungarvan, Late 19th Century

The Museum has a number of these tea bags for Dungarvan shops such as Power's Bakery, Sheehan & Ryans.

They often had an oriental design as well as the owner's name.

In this example there is an image of a tea caddy with a Chinese figure.

Ireland’s Antarctic Explorers: Talk by Michael Smith at SGC Dungarvan

Michael Smith is a British author who has made a habit of resurrecting forgotten Irishmen who have left their footprint at the frozen South Pole.  Smith’s book ‘Tom Crean’ turned out to be a number 1 best seller and was responsible for raising awareness of the role played by Irishmen in the history of Polar exploration.

Michael will be giving a talk in SGC Dungarvan on Wednesday 18^th October at 7.30pm.  Come and chat with the bestselling author.  Tickets for this event are €7 and are on sale now in Waterford County Museum.  This most extraordinary treat is not to be missed.  Please remember that seating is limited so get your tickets early.  

Grattan Square: a Social History Film on Dungarvan at SGC Dungarvan

There will be a screening of Grattan Square: a Social History Film on Dungarvan at SGC Dungarvan on Tuesday 10th October at 7.30pm.

Tickets are free of charge and are available now from Waterford County Museum and Damien Geoghegan.  Please remember that seating is limited so get your tickets early.

Object of the Week - A Sail Iron, 19th Century

This is a very rare artefact which can be seen on display in our maritime section.

It is a heavy iron with a long wooden handle which was heated and then used to straighten large sails.

Canaletto and the Art of Venice at SGC Dungarvan

There will be a screening of Canaletto and the art of Venice based on the exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace at SGC Dungarvan on Tuesday 26th September at 7pm and Saturday 30th September at 3pm.

Object of the Week - Large Earthenware Pot with Glazed Interior, 19th Century

This pot could be local ware or possibly made in Youghal which had a tradition of pottery making.

This example has no marker’s mark to identify it. 

Object of the Week - Brass Sign Inscribed 'Thomas Power & Coy. Ltd.' Early 20th Century

This sign was fixed to a delivery vehicle owned by the well known Power's Brewery in Dungarvan.

Thomas Power (1856-1930) was the first chairman of Waterford County Council and was chairman of Dungarvan Town Commissioners on a number of occasions.  In the 1880s he was in partnership with his brother producing mineral waters.  In 1904 he began producing his award winning Blackwater Cider.

In 1917 Thomas purchased the old St Brigid's Well Brewery in Fair Lane, Dungarvan from the Marquis of Waterford.  The business was a great success and its produce was in demand all over County Waterford and beyond.  After his death the brewery was taken over by his son Paul I. Power who managed it until 1976 when his son Ion took over.

Visitor from Australia Traces the Steps of Her Orphan Girl Ancestor - Late Summer 2017

Helen Wilding with Husband Stephen Shipperlee and Eddie Cantwell

Helen Wilding with Husband Stephen Shipperlee Outside the Hospital

Eddie Cantwell has carried out quite a bit of research on the forty two orphan girls that were shipped out of Dungarvan Workhouse in 1849.  He has also tracked down some of the living families of some of those orphan girls. He was delighted when Helen Wilding contacted him and said that she was going to visit Dungarvan.  

First Helen visited Cobh, where her ancestor, fifteen year old Sarah Gleeson began her journey to Australia.  Her visit to Cobh, St. Joseph’s Dungarvan and the Famine Graveyard was a moving experience for her.  Helen, who is a research librarian in Melbourne, was very taken with Dungarvan.  She said that ‘it would have been fantastic growing up with lots of friends around in a place like this.  I thought the town had a really nice feeling.  I felt really comfortable there as if it was somehow 'just right'.  I was even really sad at the hurling outcome and I am never usually at all interested in sports!’  

Helen paints little pictures in her notebook and adds notes.  This particular one which she kindly gave to Eddie was taken from Meade’s Café.

Football Championship Medal from 1897 Won by Erin's Hope, and Boer War Medals

Waterford Football Championship Medal, Michael Cullinan

Recently (August 2017) Daragh Cullinan from Wexford called into the Museum to donate this medal which is from the 1897 Waterford Football Championship won by Erin's Hope, and presented to the Vice Captain Michael Cullinan.

Daragh also brought in two Boer War medals to show us.  Jack Wall from 6 O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, served in the Imperial Yeomanry Division in South Africa, and later in World War I.  He was also prominent in the West Waterford Hunt.

Boer War Medals, Jack Wall, 6 O'Connell Street, Dungarvan

Team of Organisers and Volunteers at Launch of Exhibition 'Neolithic Caves to Medieval Motte' 19th August 2017

Photographed by John Foley at the launch of our exhibition 'Neolithic Caves to Medieval Motte' which was held on Saturday 19th August are our team of organisers and volunteers, Danny Kiely, Paul McLoughlin, Eddie Cantwell, Christina Knight-O'Connor, Nora Foley, Sarah Lucas and Róisin Burke.